The Switch Road access to BPNA is temporarily closed while we have the decking over the Mascoma River replaced. The deck will be replaced with locally harvested and milled Hemlock, and it will be spaced to allow water drainage. The hope is to have the project completed over the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned for further announcements.

This installment of the monthly Walkabout series had our intrepid adventurers in search of Cole Pond. Judging by the pictures I would say they made it. What’s with the crazy pattern on the Maple? Please join us for the next round on October 15th!

Three members of the MWCC and one volunteer met on Sunday August 20th, 2017 for a trail maintenance and invasive species removal party. Len attacked the Scotch Pine population that is invading the sand pit area, while Alice, Elizabeth, and I focused on opening up the trails around the Switch Road access. The three of us later joined Len to help with the cleanup of his project and noted that he had cut down easily 25+ trees. While this was the bulk of the trees, sadly there are still more that need a visit from a chainsaw. That said the property looks much better. In addition to this work the MWCC is getting bids for the replacement of the hemlock on the bridge off Switch Road, as it is rotting apart. We hope to have someone contracted to complete the replacement by year end. Stay tuned for further developments.

In addition, as a follow up to the previous post. The Stephen Long presentation was a complete success! Over 50 people attended his wonderful presentation, and he did manage to sell most of the books he had brought with him. Thanks Stephen for the great job!

Please join the Canaan Conservation Commission and MWCC in welcoming Stephen to the Canaan Meetinghouse.

Join us for a presentation from Stephen Long, author of Thirty-Eight: The Hurricane That Transformed New England. Long is the founder and former editor of Northern Woodlands magazine and author of More Than a Woodlot: Getting the Most from Your Family Forest. For more than twenty-five years he has been writing about the forests and people of New England while exploring his own woods in Corinth, VT.

We are very excited to have Stephen join us! More information on Stephen can be found at http://stephenlong.net/. The presentation is free, however donations will be accepted to defray the cost. We look forward to seeing friends there.

The latest installment of our monthly walkabout series had board members Len and Alice leading a wander through Bear Pond via the Switch Road entrance. Folks who came out to join us were able to sight the Black-Throated Blue Warbler, Olive Sided Flycatcher, Northern Flicker, and Ruby Crowned Kinglet among others. We also identified the song of the Nashville Warbler, Veery, Wood Thrush, and several others with the help of Len’s keen ear. Len also led the crew to see abandoned nests of both a Canada Warbler and Roughed Grouse. We hope you can join us for our next adventure!

The Watershed Walkabout series occurs the second Sunday of every month from 2-4 pm. Some of the places we have visited in 2017 include the Colette Trail in Enfield, the Harris Brook Scenic Area in Enfield, the Northern Rail Trail, as well as several trips to BPNA, via various entrances.

We have withdrawn our offer to purchase the Bird in hand farm due to our inability to raise the appropriate funding by the 28th of October. Thanks to all who supported us in this endeavor. If you would like your contributions returned to you, please email me at the address below, & we will send you a check in return. Sorry we couldn’t pull this together, but we were encouraged by the support shown to us during this process. Once again, thanks for supporting the work of the MWCC!

Our next walkabout will be Sunday October 9th from 2-4pm. Please join members of the MWCC as well as environmental consultant and wetlands specialist Mike Fogarty for an exploration of the Summit Ledge (Gorge) section of the Northern Rail Trail. Meet at the Tower House (23 NH Rt 118) in Canaan. Park along High Street or in the lot on the opposite side of the green. We will carpool from there. Hope you can make it.

Thanks to all for your contributions towards the purchase of the Bird in hand farm. We recently broke the $20,000 mark! Mascoma Bank as granted us another 60 days to continue our capital quest. Please tell everyone you can about the project! Thanks.

Speaking of birds. Join us September 17th at 8:30am to explore another section of the Northern Rail Trail with ornithologist and MWCC member Len Reitsma in search of migrating birds. Meet at the Mountain View Event Center, 478 US RT4 in Canaan. Please park on the left in front of the bar entrance. Please contact bill.chabot@gmail.com with any questions. We hope to see friends both new and old!

Mascoma Bank has graciously extended our dead line by another 30 days. Thank you Mascoma!! We are also in discussion with Mascoma Bank about a loan to secure the property by the deadline.

Donations continue to come in and we are currently approaching the $30,000 mark. We would like to thank all who have donated so far, and ask that you please tell every extended family member about the project. We can do this together!!

The next scheduled walk will take place on August 14th at 2pm. We will meet at the Switch Road entrance to Bear Pond. Please join members Alice Schori, Don Lacey, and President elect for life (so I have been told) Bill Chabot to explore the new boardwalk, bridge, and lands beyond. Thanks to Len, Christian, Noel, and Elizabeth for the hard work. We hope to see y’all there!!

The MWCC needs your help to raise approximately $175,000 to acquire the Bird-In-Hand Farm in Canaan, NH by August 23rd, 2016. Your tax deductible donation will help us to purchase the property, clean out & raze the uninhabitable structures currently on the property, and construct a series of trails connecting this property to Bear Pond, the Town Forest, as well as the rail trail. In addition, MWCC members are working with local schools to develop an outdoor education program. Over 250 local students from grades 1-7 have participated in the pilot program which was very well received by all involved. At the request of the teachers who participated in the program, we have begun the planning for the 2016/2017 school year!

We would like to say a huge THANKS to the Byrne Foundation for their gift of $10,000, as well as their additional challenge grant of another $10,000 once we have raised the funds necessary to purchase the property. Together we can do this!!

Please stay tuned for the next scheduled hike. We look forward to seeing you.

For Further information, please click on the Proposed Acquisition Summary in the menu above.

Meet on Smith Pond Road, accessed from exit 15 on Interstate 89. Go up the hill a ways until you find a (signed) public parking area on the left. Be prepared to shovel out a parking spot, as it may not be plowed. Bring snowshoes or good traction depending on conditions that day.